Blocks ‘ aimed to stop Folau’
THE Wallabies want answers from officials about whether Ireland’s “blocking lines” preventing Israel Folau a clean run to catch high balls is legal heading into Saturday’s series decider.
Ireland squared the threeTest encounter 1- 1 by winning in Melbourne last weekend, shutting down Folau’s aerial threat by impeding his runs for attacking high kicks.
“If I look at some of the escorting lines or blocking lines that Ireland put in on the weekend, they used two or three players and it seemed quite specific that they were out there trying to impede Israel’s run,” Wallabies attack coach Stephen Larkham said.
“So when you’re starting to put two players in one position it obviously opens up space elsewhere on the field, so I’m not too concerned.”
Larkham said Ireland’s tactics would be raised at their meeting with the referees before Saturday’s finale at Allianz Stadium.
“It’s in our head so it’s something we’re going to have to sit down with the referees and discuss, they might have a different opinion,” Larkham said.
“Every team in world rugby uses it, every team in Super Rugby uses it as well.
“But for us it’s one; getting the kicks accurate so our chasers aren’t running between two or three guys, and then two; bringing it to the referee’s attention just to make sure everything is legal there.”
The Wallabies are also unhappy after they were warned before the Melbourne Test about taking players out off the ball, only to have star halfback Will Genia hit behind play by Cian Healy and suffer a broken arm that sidelines him until August.
“There was a particular reference to that before the game from the referees towards us, so it was a little bit disappointing that the referees as a group of four missed some of the offthe- ball stuff which was quite significant,” Larkham said.
“They’d identified some issues out of the first game for us, which we’d addressed through the week.
“We can’t do anything [ about the Genia incident], it’s out of our hands. It’s a matter of talking to the referees and making sure they’re working collectively as a group of four and doing a better job in that area.
“I expect there will be really good fight in the team this week, it’s really good preparation for the World Cup isn’t it?”
After winning 18- 9 in Brisbane, the Wallabies lost 26- 21 last weekend, Ireland’s first win in Australia since 1979.